Late Goal Settles Scunthorpe Derby - Bottesford Town vs. Appleby Frodingham

Birch Park Bottesford

For the first of my Boxing Day matches I returned to Birch Park for Bottesford Town's home match with local rivals Appleby Frodingham. Just over three miles separates the two grounds and the home side were looking for revenge following an App Frod victory in the reverse fixture. I'd been to Birch Park a couple of seasons ago for a game against Leeds Met Carnegie which they drew as far as I can remember. Both teams were struggling in the bottom half of the Northern Counties East Division One table and App Ford were adrift at the bottom.

An App Frod ball in to the box in the first half.

The match starts off in a typical derby fashion, with lots of tackles flying in. App Frod have the ball in the net following a neat finish but the goal is ruled out for offside. The home side then take the lead in controversial circumstances when they are given a free kick for a hand ball which was actually committed by their own player. The free kick is placed perfectly in the corner of the net but the away side have a right to feel aggrieved. App Frod then proceed to dominate the rest of the first half but fail to make the Bottesford keeper work. The home side almost double their lead but the shot flashes across the goal.  

The moments before the opening goal.

The first half hour of the second half is a non event and there are no chances of note, but again the away side have most of the play but can't fashion an opening. App Frod do eventually get a deserved equaliser when the substitute, who normally plays in goal gets the ball in the box following a mistake by the defender to slot the ball under the keeper. App Frod push on for a winner and it would appear that they look more likely to go on and win the game. However, it is Bottesford who get the three points. The winger is allowed to cut in and his deflected effort beats the keeper.

The stand at Birch Park

My Dad drove me to the game but according to the excellent Andy Of Kent directions site, there is a bus from Scunthorpe station which drops you close to the ground. The ground is kind of in the middle of nowhere but the closest pub is probably The Dolphin which would be a good half hour walk away. You'd probably be better having a drink in Scunthorpe Town Centre and then get the bus. The clubhouse is quite big and has an actual pub feel to it. It also has Sky Sports.

The view from the interior of the stand.